Acts chapter 14 v 1-7:

Acts chapter 14 v 1-7:

V1:  Coming to Iconium, a city in the region of Galatia, Paul and Barnabas still begin in the Jewish synagogue there ( even after ch 13 v 46.), where the Lord immediately seals their ministry with Gospel blessing, both Jews and Gentile God-fearers coming to faith through the message preached to them. ( No details given this time.) Let us ever pray for such outcomes from our Gospel preaching, by God’s grace.

V2:  Again, this stirs the unbelieving Jews to bitter hostility, deliberately they seek to turn the Gentiles against the Apostles and their message. In this we see Satan’s attempts to hinder the spread of the Gospel, but God is Sovereign in all things. Remember Matthew 16 v18.

V3:  Despite this opposition, Paul and Barnabas remain in Iconium for some time, boldly preaching the Gospel and God seals their faithful ministry with ” signs and wonders”, surely leading to others coming to the Lord, for NT signs are never ” for their own sake”..

V4:  There is a divided response – as there usually is where there is Gospel blessing – some siding with the antagonistic Jews, others with the Apostles and their ministry.

V5:  A combination of Jews and Gentiles ” with their rulers” – perhaps the synagogue leaders for the Jews, and the civic authorities for the Gentiles? –  attempt to take  their opposition to the level of life-threatening action. ( Stoning was the Jewish punishment for blasphemy, as with Stephen’s martyrdom in chapter 7.)

V6:  But in God’s providential care, Paul and Barnabas are warned of this, and “flee” – to new ground for the Gospel, the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe. Thus, the Holy Spirit uses even persecution to continue the growth of the church, as we see throughout Acts.

V7:  So, they continue to preach the Gospel. God’s Work always goes on, and will – until the end of the age and the Lord’s return.